Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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OLLA PODRIDA : 2 : BERKELEY HIGH V.fV7,VxA box, and hastily entering the tonneau, bade the driver make all speed to Jack Barry's home, which was but a short distance. Arriving there, the two men alighted, and settling with the driver, hurried into the house. ' They set the box upon the table, and removing their overcoats and hats, sat for many minutes, thoughtful and meditating. At last Jack Barry observed, laughingly, Do you suppose that little old brown man really believed we were messengers from his god? Well, he certainly did seem earnest about it, replied the other. The Persians are so superstitious that l would believe almost anything of them. I Wonder what this box containsf' Yes, I wonder, mused jack. Perhaps some mystery connected with their religiong possibly something of value. Well, there is surely no harm in opening it. With this, he drew the sandal-wood box from his pocket, and opening it, removed the key. What a very odd piece of workmanship this is, he observed, referring to the box, as he in- serted the key in the lock. And indeed it was. The box was made of coal-black ebony, fin-- ished with a smooth, shiny surface, which was deeply and richly inlaid in opals and weird ornaments of jet. Many bands of dull, heavy gold encircled the box, each one artistically engraved. Slowly he inserted the key into the lock, and turning it carefully and without noise, he silently raised the heavy cover. The two curious, excited men rose and gazed long and anxiously within the box. Long and anxiously did they gaze, at last raising their eyes to stare at one another with a foolish grin. What did the box contain? The box, sought after and gained only after so much trouble and excitement, as here related-the box was empty! O00 o O . Q , oooooo 0 ' . . ' I 9 v '. ' 00 ' 'HW -0,540 O 0000 1' 23

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OLLA PODRIDA BERKELEY HIGH tion that they were looking upon a diminutive stage, upon which there sat an old man. The stage seemed clothed in the same strange opa- lescent light, while all the furnishings were profusely decorated with silks, draperies and curtains of the same peculiar hue-an opal green. With these novel proceedings some of their fear Hed, and they were soon engaged in watching the old man. He rose slowly to his feet, and stepped to the front. of the stage. His features were greatly distorted, his countenance diabolical, as he turned to view the strangers. He began speaking in a low voice. My friends, I am glad you have come. Many years have I waited to deliver this sacred possession to you-the messengers of our god, the Wise Mohammed. Carefully have I Watched and guarded this box, waiting patiently for the time when Mohammed would send his messenger to me, the messenger who is to deliver this box to him. I have longed for years to return once more to the sweet, pleasant oases of the Persian desertg to inhale once more the pure mountain breeze, to see once again the sacred, lofty Mt. Dema- vend, upon which is the Temple of the Worshippers of our god, Mo- hammed. I I have waited, I have prayed to be able to once again see my home-my sweet childhood home at Kom. At last, at last this time has come. At last, Mohammed has sent his messengers to meg has freed me from caring for and Watching this sacred, beautiful box, and I can return to my home, return to end my days in the sweet, happy, sunshiny land of our Mohammed-Persia! Again the room was in darkness, again the two men became over- whelmed With the strange, indescribable sensation. ' Of a sudden the room became brightly illuminated, as it was when they hrst entered, and Jack Barry and his companion found themselves staring into each other's eyes, each looking as though they had just awakened from some horrible dream. T he hrst thought which sprang to each of their minds was this: Did these people, did this strange man believe them to be messengers from Mohammed? For many moments they sat there, speechless, and thoughtful. The door on the further side of the room opened and the same liveried servant stepped forward, and kneeling low beforevthe two men, he murmured a prayerg rising, he handed a small, though very heavy, box to them, and escorted them to the door. Once out in the invigorating, fresh air again, the two bewildered men hurried to the waiting automobile, carrying with them the mysterious 22

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- 0l?'+ . .. -is if - 5 -f Era nerves ELDWUDGE Avery E slammed down his pencil, in disgust, and tore up another sheet of paper. The commotion was too much for him. A Hute, whistling on one sideg a Hbasso-profundof' on the otherg opposite was a piano, blood-curdlingly out of tune. At the end of the hall, an operatic soprano, wildly trilling, and to add to the deafening roar, was the endless throng, surging back and forth on the street below. He looked about the dark, ill-smelling room, and a feeling of in- tense repulsion came over him. In one corner was the cheap rented piano. ln the opposite one, stood the old bed-stead, with a wash-stand at the head. ln the center of the room was the table, littered with papers and music. On top of the piano, in a shabby, wooden case, wrapped in a silk American Hag, reposed the one thing he worshippedg that which he was more careful of than his life: his all-in-all -his violing a beautiful Stradivarius, which had been in his family for many generations. He thought of the long hours he had spent, wishing for, and dream- ing of, this chance to go to Europe to study, and hear and see how the big ones did it',g of how he had schemed and saved. And here he was in Dresden. It was so different from what he had pictured, and had been led to believe it would be. Suddenly it came to him like a flash. He seized a piece of paper and the pencil flew. Ah, at last he had it! Heedless of the din out- side he wrote on furiously. When he had finished, he arose with arms extended upwardg and then, realizing the full beauty of it, he dropped back into the chair, his head upon his outstretched arms, sobbing con- vulsively. It was at one of the semi-monthly meetings of the International Music Students' Club of Dresden. They were assembled in the studio of one of the leading teachers of the city. They were mostly poor stu-- dentsg men and women passionately fond of good musicg willing to do 24